For its first time participating in the OuiDesign! festival in New York, hosted by Villa Albertine, Genius Loci presents Inside Modernity, a unique plunge into gallery owner Hugues Magen’s personal collection of contemporary artworks and historic design pieces. The occasion also mark the first time that the collector opens the doors of his Tribeca loft to members of the public.
True to the spirit of Genius Loci, this experiential event invites visitors to explore the singularity of a private collection in perfect resonance with the creative energy of New York City.
The private collection of this visionary aesthete – the founder of Magen H Gallery, a reference for modern design in New York – includes creations by major designers like Charlotte Perriand, Jean Prouvé, Hervé Baley, Pierre Székely and the La Borne ceramists, as well as pieces by contemporary artists such as Jenny Holzer and Sherrie Levine. Scenography by the interior designer Gabriella Asfar enhances the dialogue between the space and the collection, highlighting the rare, groundbreaking nature of the works.
Since 1997, Galerie Magen H, founded by Hugues Magen, has focused on a selection of original 20th-century design in sculpture, decorative arts, architecture and ceramics.
Specializing in post-war French designers, the gallery establishes an artistic dialogue between historic works and more contemporary pieces. Each piece reveals the tension between the organic spirit of the material and the artists’ skills. Since its foundation, Magen H Gallery has been guided by the founding principle that art and design are both allied and interdependent.
Exhibiting masterpieces inspired by craftsmanship (clay, metal, wood, silicone and aluminum), the gallery seeks out objects that transcend form and function. Synthesizing modern and contemporary design, Magen H Gallery continues to redefine the decorative arts market and values innovative spirit and aesthetic revolutions that have marked history.
Galerie Magen H is responsible for several major publications and exhibitions on Le Corbusier, Pierre Chapo and La Borne ceramics.
As France’s newest institution in the United States supporting art and ideas, the Villa Albertine revives the ambition of the major projects that have marked the development of the French cultural network abroad for over a century.
Created by the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, with the support of the Ministry of Culture, the Villa Albertine renews the concept of residency, shifting the center of gravity from the place of residence to the territory of residence, and invites visitors to explore this countrycontinent from the 10 major U.S. cities where the Villa is located.
© Victoria Hely-Hutchinson
© Philippe Stouvenot